New IAEA chief faces challenges as Mohamed ElBaradei retires

by Xinhua writer Liu Gang

VIENNA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano took office on Tuesday as Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), replacing Mohamed ElBaradei, who retired after 12 years at the helm.

During ElBaradei's term, nuclear issues in Iran and the Korean Peninsula became international hot spots. Nuclear-related issues in Libya and Syria also attracted the international community's attention. And Amano begins his tenure with a host of challenges ahead.

A SUCCESSFUL PREDECESSOR

Facing a variety of "nuclear contradictions," ElBaradei adhered to the principle of impartial neutrality and balanced the interests of all parties in order to avoid conflict.

In the process of dealing with these intractable conflicts, ElBaradei had to withstand pressures and often blame. In the Iranian nuclear issue, Israel and some other countries criticized him for favoring Iran, while Iran accused him of representing the interests of European countries and the United States.

"Many Middle Eastern countries see me as an agent of European countries and the United States, while in the eyes of Western countries I am too biased toward Muslim countries," ElBaradei said.

However, as IAEA chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate ElBaradei won universal praise from the international community because of his diligence, rigor, impartiality and neutrality, as well his insistence on his own principles and strict self-discipline.

CHALLENGES FACING NEW IAEA CHIEF

Unlike his predecessor's frankness, Amano is said to maintain a low profile.

As the first IAEA chief from Asia, Amano assumes the post at a sensitive time. Iranian and the Korean Peninsula's nuclear-related issues are intensifying, indicating his four-year term will be full of tough tasks.

As he was about to take office, Iran reacted strongly to a new resolution by the IAEA board of governors, which called for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program.

Iran declared that it would not comply with the resolution and it would build 10 more uranium enrichment facilities.